• Worry Residents, Visitors

The rise in street trading and conversion of every available space into motor parks in Owerri, Imo State capital, has become a source of worry to some residents and visitors to the state.

Across many streets in the state capital, movements are sometimes derailed, as traders battle for spaces with pedestrians in the middle of the roads to display their wares. Yet, these trading activities are sometimes being carried out on government paved roads meant principally for vehicular movement. Of note is that some major streets which were being plied by vehicles have been taken over by street traders, who also deface them with wastes and other disused objects.

In the 1980s, Owerri, the capital city of Imo State was regarded as a clean and organised city meant for law abiding and well behaved persons.

Then civilian governor of the state, Samuel Mbakwe, who had attracted many industries and built several solid roads between October 1979 and December 31, 1983, introduced the system of assembling wastes at strategic locations within the city.

And at intervals, officials of the waste management agency would pick the wastes from the different spots to deposit them at the appropriate dumping sites.

Then businesses and trading activities went on at government approved areas in the capital city included Ekeonuwa Owerri, New Markets among others.

However, the case is different in the city now.  A visit to the then decent Douglas Road, now housed disorganised trading and commercial activities, as traders openly sell their wares on the road without hindrance.

Douglas Road, which is like the gateway to other states like Abia, Akwa Ibom and Cross River states, has become a nightmare for vehicular movement towards Abia State, largely because of the activities of the traders who display their wares arbitrarily on the road.

Rotibi Street is not left out too, as traders have erected wooden stalls on the road. The street, which has the oldest five-storey edifice in Owerri, where most national newspapers have their offices has been taken over by traders. As a result, vehicles no longer ply the street, with trading of foodstuffs taking centre stage on a major road.

Just as street trading is haphazardly conducted across major roads and streets, so also are motor parks springing up at unauthorised places around Douglas,  Wetheral, Control Post, Imo State University Junction,  Mbari / Okigwe; Wetheral / Okigwe; Okigwe by Tetlow; Douglas / Aba Roads among others.

From the operational mode, these activities seemingly have defied measures put in place by the successive administrations. Except in the 80’s when soldiers deployed to ward off recalcitrant traders on the roads to ease traffic managed and controlled the situation, no other measure had worked since then. But the soldiers had in the process shot and killed people as well as wounded others.

It was observed that it seems an herculean task for the state government to control traders at the ever-busy Douglas and Rotibi roads. It was also noticed that the activities of the traders are largely contributing to the littering of wastes at every nook and cranny of the state capital.

Although the state has an environmental agency, the Imo State Environmental Transformation Commission (ENTRACO), and other supporting state and municipal council officials, they have however not been able to rein in on the recalcitrant traders and transporters.     During the administration of Rochas Okorocha, efforts were made to relocate the market to Egbeada, outskirts of Owerri capital city, but the indigenes of Owerri vehemently opposed the decision.

Then, notices were issued to the traders to move their wares to the preferred areas, but many ignored him.

Indigenes of the city, who pointedly opined that it was their ancestral market, challenged the state government’s decision, in the court.

One early morning, apparently while shop owners were still sleeping, bulldozers mobilized by the state government started demolishing the shops. The Police and soldiers supervised the action.

As many of the shops were going down, a 10-year-old boy, Somtochukwu, a pupil of one of the primary schools in Owerri, and the only son of his parents, was killed by a yet–to–be–identified soldier. The toddler had gone to carry some of his father’s wares from his shop at that market, during the period of demolition.  Okorocha’s action brought some sanity to the state.

When he exited office in 2019 and  Emeka Ihedioha took over, the menace gradually returned. Ihedioha, whose populist stance was not being too inquisitive to hurt the residents, had preferred to dialogue on every issue.

He could not however do much in that regard as the Supreme Court sacked him from office a few months after.

The Hope Uzodimma administration that took over in, January 15, 2020, opened another vista of street trading. Even with the establishment of a regulatory body, the activities of the traders have extended to other roads and streets in Owerri municipality.

Some of these areas include Ekeonuwa, Erekwerenwa, Chikwere among others. Other big roads within the city where chaotic trading activities are conducted included School, Wetheral, Mbaise, Egbu Roads, and some parts of Okigwe Road.

It was therefore not surprising that a month ago, the member representing Owerri Municipal in the 27 -member Imo State House of Assembly (IMHA), Clinton Amadi (Labour Party, LP), sponsored a motion, urging the governor, Uzodimma, to direct the appropriate agency to rid the streets of Owerri of street traders.

He stated that the problem constituted obstruction to movement and an embarrassment to visitors, regretting that the situation was escalating on a daily basis.

“The rate of street trading in Owerri is increasing, obstructing human and vehicular traffic. This should stop”, he stated.

After entertaining all the contributions of the members, the Speaker, Chike Olemgbe, ruled that the resolution be forwarded to the governor to implement. The governor’s action on the resolution by the state assembly is being awaited

Earlier in the month, President of the Imo State Amalgamated Markets & Traders Association (ISAMATA),  Emmanuel Ezeanochie,  hosted the members of the House Committee on Commerce and Industry, chaired by Johnleoba Iheoha (representing Ikeduru Constituency).

The members had canvassed a synergy and dialogue that would lead to regulating markets and trading in the state.

“We are determined to work with the traders in the state; make good laws that will impact on their lives. But they should be law abiding,” the house committee chairman said.

One of the traders, John Igweh, who spoke to The Guardian on why they trade on the streets, said he preferred it to occupying a shop inside the market because he could easily be accessed by customers.

“I find it better to stay outside here than inside the market. Customers move from here before they enter the market. So, we usually see them first, convince them and they buy our things,” he said

Another trader, who deals in foodstuffs on Douglas Road, Chioma Nwosu, said she makes more money and faster on the road than inside the market.

“Many buyers don’t like going inside the market. They prefer to buy from us fast and avoid being pushed around inside,” Nwosu said.